Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devipaksha, the start of the fortnight heralding Durga Puja. Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s iconic radio programme, Mahisasurmardini, narrating goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasur, has crossed over to television, with Bengali entertainment TV channels offering dramatic retellings of the mythology of the goddess every year. Here’s a look at what programmes you can tune into this Mahalaya.

STAR JALSHA

Titled Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu, the Mahalaya special programme on STAR Jalsha will feature Koel Mallick as Devi Durga. The Tollywood actress was last seen playing the goddess on Colors Bangla’s Mahalaya programme in 2021. This year’s STAR Jalsha show will have Koel portraying the three forms of Shakti — Sati, Parvati and Durga.

Other television actresses will also be seen as different gods and goddesses in Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu. Trina Saha will play Ganga, Sukrit Saha will be Kartik and Payel De will be seen as Kali. Sandipta Sen will feature in a special role.

ZEE BANGLA

The nine forms of Devi Durga are generally worshipped together as Navapatrika during Durga Puja. Zee Bangla will highlight the tales of these nine goddesses in their Mahalaya special programme, Navapatrikay Devi Boron.

Ankita Mallick, who plays the titular role in the Zee Bangla TV serial Jagaddhatri, will be seen as Durga, while Ditipriya Roy will play the role of Uma. Abhishek Basu will slip into the garb of Shiva, while Arnab Chakraborty, a contestant of the latest season of Dance Bangla Dance, will be seen as Mahishasur.

Mohana Maiti (Gouri Elo) will play Devi Brahmani. Shruti Das (Ranga Bou) will portray Devi Kalika, while Pallavi Sharma (Neem Phooler Madhu) will be seen as Devi Kartiki. Sweta Bhattacharya, who featured in Dev-starrer Projapoti, will be playing Devi Shiva. Manali Dey will be seen as Maa Shok Rohita in this show, while Shrabani Bhunia (Mukut) will be essaying Devi Chamunda. Divyani Mondal (Phulki) will play Devi Lakshmi and Aratrika Maity (Khelna Bari) will be seen as Devi Rakta Dantika.

COLORS BANGLA

Colors Bangla’s show for Mahalaya is titled Devi Puran-Dash Mahavidya. Instead of a new production this year, the channel has decided to compile the best bits of their Mahalaya shows from previous years — featuring Rituparna Sengupta and Koel Mallick in the role of Durga — for the small screen. The show will showcase the various avatars of Durga as described in the Purana.